PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

S Adamson

Publications and source records attributed to S Adamson.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

The manufacturing process for recombinant factor IX.

Advances in recombinant DNA manufacturing technology have now made possible the production of a highly purified and active recombinant factor IX (rFIX) product. Recombinant factor IX was developed by (1) stable insertion of the genes for both factor IX and PACE-SOL (a truncated, soluble serine protease needed to enhance the capacity of cells to remove the amino-terminal propeptide from rFIX) into Chinese hamster ovary cells; (2) selection of a cell line that was capable of expressing high amounts of active rFIX while growing in bioreactors containing a completely defined culture medium that does not contain blood or plasma products; and (3) inclusion of four independent chromatography steps, none of which require monoclonal antibodies. Furthermore, rFIX has been extensively tested to demonstrate similarity to plasma-derived factor IX and has been shown to be a consistent, high-purity product. For example, a high-specific-activity product (276+/-23 IU/mg) has been consistently produced throughout 65 consecutive batches from five consecutive manufacturing campaigns. Thus, rFIX offers a consistent and high-purity source of factor IX treatment for patients with hemophilia B.

Animals

Viral safety of recombinant factor IX.

The viral safety of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-cell-based pharmaceuticals is well established. There have been more than 100 million infusions of CHO-derived pharmaceuticals without a single documented case of viral transmission. The recombinant factor IX (rFIX) process builds on this safety record by using a state-of-the-art multitiered approach to viral safety. This includes extensive testing of the CHO cells used to produce rFIX, routine viral monitoring of the cell culture production process, a manufacturing process and formulation that do not use blood or plasma products, and validation of the viral removal capacity of the purification process. The multifaceted viral safety program for rFIX has sufficient redundancy between approaches to compensate for potential limitations of any single safety measure. Together, the elements of the rFIX multitiered viral safety program offer patients and physicians a product that is inherently free of human blood-borne pathogens, including any risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) hepatitis, parvovirus, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD).

Animals

Teaching baby massage to new parents.

In this paper the author reviews six years of running an on-going baby massage group in a health clinic and makes observations, based on experience, on the importance of offering these classes in health centres where they are accessible to all parents with young babies. As baby massage classes are becoming increasingly popular, private individuals are offering classes and, in some cases, there is doubt as to the qualifications of the instructors, their understanding, and their ability to give sufficient support to young mothers at a vulnerable stage in their lives. The quality of training given by the International Association of Infant Massage Instructors based in the USA is appraised and some thoughts are given as to the way ahead in making more baby massage classes available to all parents within the Primary Preventive Health setting.

Adult

Actions of interleukin-4 on prostaglandin biosynthesis by human amnion cells.

The effects of interleukin-4 (IL-4) on amnion prostaglandin (PG) production have been determined. Human amnion cells from term placentae were grown to confluence and incubated with IL-4 either alone or with various concentrations of epidermal growth factor (EGF) of ionomycin. PGE2 production was determined using a specific radioimmunoassay. IL-4 alone stimulated PGE2 production in amnion cells in a concentration-related manner. IL-4 significantly enhanced the stimulatory actions of ionomycin and EGF on amnion cell PGE2 production. Ionomycin and IL-4 acted synergistically in their effects on PGE2 production by amnion cells whereas EGF and IL-4 acted more additively in this respect. We suggest that IL-4 production by immune effector cells in gestational tissues may contribute to the mechanisms of labor at term and preterm.

Amnion

Regulation of intrauterine prostaglandin biosynthesis: interactions between protein kinase C and interleukin 1 beta.

Activation of protein kinase C with phorbol esters stimulates prostaglandin (PG) biosynthesis in many cell types whereas down-regulation of protein kinase C can suppress stimulatory responses. Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) can stimulate PG production by intrauterine tissues and may play a significant part in the mechanisms of preterm labor associated with intrauterine infection. Hence we have evaluated the effects of staurosporine and H7 (inhibitors of protein kinase C) on IL-1 beta stimulation of amnion, chorion and decidual prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production. Staurosporine and H7 alone were without effect on PGE2 production by any cell type. However with minor exceptions both protein kinase C inhibitors enhanced the stimulatory actions of IL-1 beta on PGE2 production by all three cell types. Hence we believe that protein kinase C is closely linked to the regulation of intrauterine PG biosynthesis and that these links may have multiple layers of complexity.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine

Best feet foremost.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Community Health Nursing

Actions of interleukin-4 on prostaglandin biosynthesis at the chorion-decidual interface.

OBJECTIVE: We determined the effects of interleukin-4 on chorion and decidual prostaglandin production. STUDY DESIGN: Chorion and decidual cells from term placentas were grown to confluence. Cells were then incubated with interleukin-4 either alone or with other known stimulants of prostaglandin production: interleukin-1 beta, epidermal growth factor, ionomycin, or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. Prostaglandin E2 production was determined with a specific radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Interleukin-4 alone stimulated prostaglandin E2 production in chorion and decidual cells. Interleukin-4 significantly enhanced the stimulatory actions of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, ionomycin, and epidermal growth factor but not interleukin-1 beta on prostaglandin E2 production. CONCLUSION: Interleukin-4 stimulates prostaglandin E2 production by chorion and decidual cells. These data suggest that interleukin-4 production by immune effector cells in gestational tissues may contribute to the pathophysiologic features of preterm labor.

Cells, Cultured

Hands-on therapy.

Touch is a primary need for babies to develop as healthy human beings, writes Suzanne Adamson. Here she describes the success of her baby massage class, run as part of her health visitor remit.

Community Health Nursing

Co-localization of calcitonin gene-related peptide- and substance P-like immunoreactivity in mucosal intra-epithelial nerves in the toad colon.

Mucosal intra-epithelial nerve terminals have been found in the colon of the toad, Bufo marinus. Co-localized in the fibres are calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-like immunoreactivity (LI) and substance P (SP)-LI. The intraepithelial nerves are likely to be terminals of primary afferent sensory neurones. Fibres with vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-LI or neuropeptide Y (NPY)-LI also supply the mucosa but do not penetrate the epithelium.

Afferent Pathways

The distribution of 5-hydroxytryptamine in the gastrointestinal tract of reptiles, birds and a prototherian mammal. An immunohistochemical study.

The distribution of 5-hydroxytryptamine in the gut of several species of birds and reptiles, and of a prototherian mammal, the platypus, was studied using a monoclonal antibody. 5-Hydroxytryptamine-like immunoreactivity was found in enterochromaffin cells and, in birds, in thrombocytes. Immunoreactivity was not found in enteric neurons fixed immediately after dissection. A detailed study was made on one avian species, the budgerigar. Following incubation of intestine in physiological solution, immunoreactivity was found in nerve fibres in the gut wall that was more marked after incubation with the monoamine oxidase inhibitor pargyline. These fibres took up exogenous 5-hydroxytryptamine. Similar fibres were found in the intestinal nerves and in perivascular plexuses on mesenteric arteries. Both the uptake of 5-hydroxytryptamine and the appearance of neuronal immunoreactivity after incubation were inhibited by the amine uptake inhibitors desmethylimipramine or fluoxetine. Fibres taking up 5-hydroxytryptamine were damaged by pretreatment with 6-hydroxydopamine. It was concluded that the fibres showing immunoreactivity after incubation were adrenergic fibres that had taken up 5-hydroxytryptamine released in vitro from enterochromaffin cells or thrombocytes. These, and more limited observations made on the other species, suggest that birds, reptiles and prototherian mammals lack enteric neurons that use 5-hydroxytryptamine as a transmitter substance.

Animals